NOTD - Makeup Store "Hypnotic"

I think this nail polish is discontinued now as far as I can find out. It is a dark raspberry with bright pink glitter, very sparkly indeed :) I remember walking into Makeup Store and gawking at the endless rows of makeup and nail polish, it was a treat not often experienced when I was young. This polish is probably about 7-8 years old, just like its green counterpart "Hayfever".

This goes on smooth for a glitter, and this is 2 coats on top of Seche Clear with 1 coat of Seche Vite. I think I might put on another coat of Seche Vite, cause this polish seems to eat the top coat a bit. Can't remember the last time I wore this polish, but it's been too long :)

Beware, I seem to be going through another pink phase, which is why I passed "Emerald Sparkle" by today and put on this polish :) Fret not dear reader, I am sure its just a passing phase and I'll be back on the odd colours soon :)

'Tis The Season...

After a gruelling day cleaning and decorating, my Christmas has started :) I have however suffered two broken nails in the cleaning frenzy so its back to stubby nails AGAIN... Oh well.

I am now off to file down and re-lacquer my wee ones; I think it might be time for "Emerald Sparkle" again :)

NOTD - Lancome Le Magnetique "Blue Enigma"

Holy frijoles, this is cool!!

It's not the most original colour, a steely dark blue sparkle not unlike a darker version of Zoya's "Kotori", but it's like gadgets for nails :) Formula is opaque in two coats and applies easily. The tricky bit is the magnet. Hold it too close the iron particles lifts up creating big bubbles on or smears the polish. Hold it too far away you don't get the star design. Took me 5 nails to get it right! So my left hand is a mess and the right is well, AWESOME!! Hope you enjoy! :)

Thanks to Weebie for getting me this fantastic polish! By chance! :)

Nfu-Oh Is Coming To Europe?!

Got a comment on an old post and it seems that an Estonian company will be opening an online shop for Nfu-Ohs soon! WOOHOO! Post Christmas spree perhaps?? :) Email Pavel at info@viis.ee for more info and he'll keep you updated on the progress of the shop.

Review - Originails BubbleWhite

OK so like most girls who love weird and dark nail polish, my nails are yellowy from years of abuse. I decided that I needed to try nail whitening treatments. After some research, I got a sachet of Originails BubbleWhite from Sally's. Claims to whiten, brighten and clean nails in 5 minutes. No peroxides in the ingredients list, so I thought OK, at least if it doesn't work it doesn't have bleach in it anyway to damage my "babies".

BubbleWhite is an effervescent treatment, although the fizziness doesn't last more than about 20 seconds once its in the bowl of water. It smells kind of like a perfumed swimming pool; like the manufacturer tried to cover the smell of chemicals with perfumes :( I started the timer on 5 minutes and got my S-O to take some pictures while I soaked my fingers.

After 5 minutes I washed my hands as instructed. The result? I think you can see from my pics for yourself :( I was kind of hoping for amazing whiteness like you'd get with optical brightening polish but no such luck. The free edge is whiter, and the whole nail looks a bit less yellow but I wouldn't say it amazingly whitened my nails. I still could not get away with sheer polishes. So all in all, I give BubbleWhite 2 of 5 stars, as it smells terrible and doesn't actually work very well with just one treatment. I guess you need repeated treatments for any significant effect. Oh well. For £1.50 it was worth a try! :) I've still got two more sachets coming in the post (maybe, as it seems parcel has got lost...) so will try them as well to see if it makes a difference.

Product Of The Week - Figs & Rouge "Rambling Rose" Balm

Eensie-weensie tin (8ml) of 100% organic balm for lips, face and body with the soft scent of summer and rose gardens. I am in love with this balm! It has a silky light texture and you only need a tiny bit of product. Not sure how long it'd last if you used it for your body!

Maybe not such a bargain at £3.45 for the tiny amount but it is pure heaven and well worth it. And OMG is the tin not the cutest thing you'd ever seen :)

I give this balm 5 of 5 stars, for it's lovely formula and to-die-for retro packaging.

Figs & Rouge also make matching rose shower gel and lotion, which I probably will have to wish for for my birthday :) If rose isn't your thing, they also do a Sweet Geranium balm and lots of other products.

Figs & Rouge Website

NOTD - China Glaze "Turned Up Turquoise"

My 101st blog entry - and it's a NOTD :)

I knew I needed something to cheer me up last night. I went for my Rheumatology assessment today and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, so I am glad I have this cheerful colour on my tips!

"Turned up turquoise" is a re-release part of the Ink Collection, it was previously released in the Wow Factor Collection. I have thought about this colour a lot before I got it, but never thought it would be so different to my other turquoise/teals as it is! This is a stunner! The colour reminds me of a pair of Madonna-style fishnet gloves from Jeans&Clothes I had in the 80's. Anyway, moving on.

"Turned up turquoise" is OK with 2 coats but you can see a hint of VNL, so if you can't bear that, best get 3 coats on. As a neon, it also dries matte so gloop on that Seche Vite like theres no tomorrow! :) With a shiny top coat, this is electric, super-shimmery juicy turquoise goodness..

...and I <3 it :)

Pretty Perfect Beauty 100th Post!

What to write for my 100th post?? :) First off, I'd like to thank everyone that reads the blog for doing so! Every comment I get is exciting :)

Then I thought that I would give a run of my 10 all-time favourite products for you all, in no particular order :)

CND Solar Oil
This is my favourite cuticle oil, moisturises a treat and smells like marzipan! And it comes in balm form for putting in your handbag too.

MOP Pear Shampoo, Detangler and Body Wash
Smells of juicy pears and is so gentle! My fine, Swedish blonde mane loves the shampoo and detangler and my skin isn't angry and dry after my morning shower using the body wash. Apparently there used to be a lotion as well but it has been discontinued :(

Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream
This all natural face cream is incredible. It goes on so easy and it keeps you hydrated all day even in icy winds and snow. Pair it with their Rosehip oil and you will start to see the best skin you have ever had after a few weeks!

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil
Removes all traces of makeup and grime in one fell swoop. Won't dry or over-grease your skin either.

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter
Smells of coconut and makes me feel more like I am in a tropical paradise somewhere than dreary Britain. I use this as a body moisturiser, hand cream, dry patch reliever and funnily enough, split end mender.

BedHead Superstar Blow Dry Lotion
Actually works! Work a bit of this bubblegum-scented stuff onto your roots, blowdry and get massive hair worthy of a 80's "Dallas" characters.

Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Skin Wash
It gives your skin a tingling sensation and it smells medicinal from the high tea tree content. And this is the spot-fighting wash of the century! I rely on this stuff to clean my face because its antibacterial, non-drying and doesn't aggravate my already angry skin :)

Eucerin Cream
This is a rich, clinical smelling cream. I have seen Eucerin sold in the UK but this jar of cream I can only get in Sweden. I use it for everything - winter face, hands, dry patches, lips, feet. I love it!

China Glaze Nail Polish
I am loving China Glaze - they have some fantastic colours just now, and more lovelies to come this Spring and Summer :)

Chagrin Valley Soaps
The handmade, all natural soaps from Chagrin Valley in the US are fantastic. I have quite a selection of these and they are all mild and smell lovely of the natural essential oils in them. And I like the fact they are a small family-run company, makes them extra-special!

OMG It's Here!!

In the post today I received my bottle of Lancome Le Magnetique "Blue Enigma" from my lovely friend Weebie. Its a dark blue shimmer in the bottle, and I can't wait to try it!!! :D

NOTD - Revlon "Steel her heart"

Bought this by chance, and I really like the colour :) Its a metallic gunmetal grey that doesn't look at all blackened and it's just, nice :)

This was tricky to apply however; the brush is very stiff and the polish kind of pools on the brush causing overflow. This is 2 coats, I couldn't be bothered trying 3 because it probably would have bubbled. 1 coat of Seche Vite on top.

Picture again with old work camera, so apologies for the blurry photo.

My New Skechers Bikers Pacifica! :)

Where have these Skechers Bikers Pacifica been all my life??

After injuring my foot and having to wear supportive footwear in the office for 7 weeks, this is an awesome find :) Nike trainers just don't go with dresses.. I will so be wearing these all summer long too!

Please ignore the ruched tights, I accidentally bought the medium instead of small size and being only 158cm (5 ft 1 in) tall they're veeeeery long in the leg...

NOTD - L'Oreal Shock Resist "330"

This is one of my all-time favourite polishes - you never guessed that, eh?? :) I love how it is ultrasparkly and just the right kind of pink, I call it watermelon pink. This bottle is perhaps 10 yrs old, but still applies like a dream! This is 2 coats over Seche Clear and 1 coat Seche Vite over the top. It also wears really well, so I'm thinking this won't come off till its party time over the weekend :)

If anyone can suggest a dupe for this colour, please let me know as this polish is VHTF!!

Today's Mailbag - Maybelline "93 Electric Apple"

As I returned to work today after my time off sick at the start of the week, I had a nice harvest of parcels waiting for me at my desk. All but one was Christmas presents since I have decided I hate the high street rush at this time of year and will never go Christmas shopping in town ever again, I now buy every present online. Anyway, I digress. One parcel had a quite rare and discontinued Maybelline polish called "Electric Apple". In the eBay post it looked sort of lime green, but its better than that in real life :) It is a shimmer polish with the colour of a nice and tart Granny Smith apple. I like this! I forgot my memory stick at home so you won't see my NOTD til tonight - it's the awesome sparkletastic pink L'Oreal polish 303, rare and discontinued. If someone can suggest dupes for it let me know :)

An update on the Lancome Le Magnetique - my friend managed to score a bottle for me too, so I will soon be able to sit at my table, painting my nails with it and saying "My preciousss" like a crazy lady :)

My friend's NOTD - Lancome Le Magnetique "Bleu Enigma"

Holy frijoles I can't believe it!! My friend Weebie manage to get a hold of the most exquisite nail polish ever, the limited edition Lancome Le Magnetique "Blue Enigma". Apparently, it is a teal "starburst" polish. This is the best pic she manage to take but I can honestly say that I am needing this polish!!! I am off sick at the moment so she sent me a photo message on my phone to cheer me up. But I want it!! :) So I am scouring the internet for it in between snoozing...

Nail Day Off

I am having a nails day off, no polish just lots of Solaroil and handcream. I think they need it, they've been having it hard for a while with all these lovely new colours coming out. But, I have noticed my nails are slightly yellow from dark polish abuse :(

Soooo, what can we do? Always one for finding a solution to any beauty niggle you may have, I have decided to buy some nail whitening treatments! I decided on Originails Bubble White, and according to the seller, it's in the post as we speak. I've heard good things about this product, but I will wait to pass judgement until I have tried it :) Of course, I will keep you updated on the results with before and after shots!

Review - Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream

I am quite impressed with this face cream. I have used this cream for a couple of months now, and its a good all-rounder that is a day, night, eye cream and a face mask all-in-one. It has some little light-reflecting particles too to instantly pep up a tired face. I don't know if it has reduced my crows feet but my skin isn't as dry and angry with this cream as it normally is. It has a gentle fragrance too, some anti-wrinkle creams tend to be quite perfumed. It comes with a massage scheme, which actually makes you feel quite relaxed when you put it on :) It is also not that pricey, £29.99, compared to some other brand creams that cost more than a pair of shoes!! I would consider buying this again, if I wasn't so unfaithful when it comes to products! 4 of 5 stars for Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream.

China Glaze Spring Summer Colours!!

OMG you guys, if you like China Glaze check this awesome post on makeupalley.com!!

I think that Cherish, Strawberry Fields and Watermelon Rind are my current picks but I really want them all... :)

NOTD - Sparitual "Epicurean" with "Stiletto"

I have seen this kind of use of duo colours on the ring finger a lot lately, so decided to try it. It seems like a fun way to wear more of your nail polish colours :) I used "Epicurean" on all the fingers apart from my ring fingers where I put "Stiletto".

Both polishes apply nicely with decent, but not amazing drying time. I really like the rubber bottle top on these bottles, I wish all bottles were like that :)

"Epicurean" is a really dark maroon shimmer. From a distance and in some lights it looks like a vampy creme, but when the sun hits it, it glows like lava from the inside - amazing!! You can see a bit of this effect on my pinkie, whereas the index finger shows the creme finish. I like! :)

But I have to say, I don't like the colour of "Stiletto". Its a shimmery red, but it lacks the pizzazz of similar red shimmers such as OPI "No autographs, please". It just looks a bit, I don't know, flat.

The colours work well together though, and I really like this mani. I will be trying more combo's over the weekend :) I am hoping also to be able to post a few reviews I have been working on a while, so check back over the weekend :)

St Martins Day Celebration

In our effort of cultural exchange among our friends, we celebrated St Martins Day yesterday with a paper lantern walk in the woods :) It was pissing it down with rain and stormy but still very nice :)

NOTD - Zoya "Mieko"

"Mieko" is my second favourite from the Flourish winter 2008 collection. However I think this would be more of a summer sandal toes polish than a winter one? But then again, maybe it's meant to be like the "cruise collection" for nail polish :)

"Mieko" was less opaque than "Richelle" in two coats, I should have put on 3. But its goes on smoothly and dries fairly quickly so it's not really a problem. And I really like the colour - it is a juicy raspberry pink with gold micro-glitter, very nice :)

NOTD - Zoya "Richelle"

"Richelle" is from the Zoya winter collection Flourish for 2008, and it seems every other nail blogger have already posted some really great photos of these collections. However I believe in making informed consumer choices, especially in these "credit crunch" days, so here is my opinion and my swatches as well :)

Richelle is a sparkly, warm golden bronze. I can't take my eyes off this colour. I have never coveted gold polishes (hence why I didn't go nuts for Chanel's Gold Fiction) but Richelle really excites me!

The formula is very smooth and non-gritty for such a fiercly micro-glittery polish. It was opaque in 2 coats. It dries fairly quickly to a high shine. The photo shows base coat, 2 coats of "Richelle" and 1 coat of Seche Vite.

What can I say? "Richelle" is my Christmas polish crush :) I did however sabotage one of my nails while taking photos so I think that tonight it will come off and make way for "Shivon" or "Mieko" from the same collection, so stay tuned :)

NOTD - GOSH "548 Green Hawaii" over China Glaze "Gussied Up Green"

Isn't this a stunning manicure?? I can't stop looking at the multi-glitter sparkles in this. The colour here is the colour you'd expect "Green Hawaii" to turn out in itself, but it's just not opaque enough, it comes out a very acid green. This way its stunning glitter gets more potent :)

This is basecoat, 1 layer GUG, 2 layers of "Green Hawaii" and 1 layer of Seche Vite, although I should've put 2 layers of Seche Vite, as it's still a little bit gritty. "Green Hawaii" on it's own was a bit light for me, so I decided to try it over GUG (which I keep forgetting is such a nice colour in itself).

I really like GOSH, by the way. There are some really great polishes (see also my GOSH score from September) and their eye liners rock :) A very colourful brand and worth spending your pennies on if you can find it.

NOTD That Was Over-Ruled - Rimmel 60sec "730 Silver Bullet"

I bought this last night and thought I'd try it the same day. However, as soon as it was finished, it came right off again to make way for a layering experiment (see the next post).

"Silver Bullet" despite its name is not a silver but a white pearl. It's a royal PITA to apply, very streaky and it lifts off the polish if you go over the same place twice. This is 3 layers... (the bubbles are not from the polish but from my crappy base coat application). But it's an eye-popping white pearl.

I will probably use this for snazzy French manicures, or for layering, but I can't live with its streaky white coldness in the winter. Maybe on toes for the summer when I'm tanned... Dries lightning fast though, and for the price you pay it's just something different to add to my collection :)

Sushi Love!

I love sushi, but I can't master the chop sticks (or is that just because of the Asahi beer?.. )

Anyway, I bought a glamorous pair of cheat-sticks or "Rookie-stix" as they are called to go with it. Yummy! :)

Soap Of The Moment - Chagrin Valley "Peppermint Twist"

I am very impressed with Chagrin Valley products, I think because it's a small company a lot of care goes into making the products and therefore the quality is consistently great. I also had the Apple Spice soap, which was so nice I wished it wasn't a seasonal soap..

Anyway, I really like this soap! It doesn't dry my skin out, and the minty smell is totally head-clearing :) And it looks pretty as it has swirlie patterns of lavender lilac in it too! It is also all natural and vegan, which is always nice. 5 of 5 stars for "Peppermint Twist"!

Obama Wins! :)

I feel like a bit like an idiot for wearing a red manicure today, you'd guess I'd see it coming! But I did put on my little blue,white and red bow to celebrate the occasion :) I think the best man has won the US Presidential election, nuff said.

NOTD - Nails Inc "Aspen"

I initially got this from a work buddy of mine and promptly used up the bottle on endless applications on my tootsies. Nothing like taking your socks off and seeing your sexy red toenails to cheer you up :)

I bought a brand new bottle of this colour when I went to London (nail polish re-purchasing, why I never!!). "Aspen" is a deep metallic true red. With just two coats and a touch of Seche Vite, it makes for killer nails. This is my second application on my hands, and it never seizes to amaze me how awesome this colour really is. It's not for shrinking violets however; it will get you noticed and even if you are no spring chicken, "Aspen" is one of those polishes that will get you free drinks all night long... :)

LOTD - MAC Lipglass "Russian Red"

I set a little challenge for the ladies at work to wear red lipstick. You wouldn't believe how many said they "didn't suit it" or plain "could never wear it"! Guess red lips is not for everyone! :) As a hardened red lips enthusiast, my current favourite is MAC Lipglass "Russian Red", a fire engine red creme lipgloss. It is not for the fainthearted! You won't fool anyone with a no-makeup look if you are sporting this baby! It is slightly tacky to the touch, and hence lasted me through most of the morning at work. It's not as long lasting as my new baby from Maybelline, the SuperStay PowerGloss, but it's still such a lovely gloss it deserves 4 of 5 stars, if for nothing else it's show-stopping redness :)
If you want to try the red look but is unsure how to do it, go to Rocketqueen's superb guide on the matter!
Sorry for the photo, but I just can't do pics of lipgloss on my lips. It just doesn't come out right, ever. If anyone has any good tips on photographing lipgloss while it's actually on the lips, let me know.

"Dear Santa... "

I couldn't take it anymore. I have felt left out for long enough. So I have "asked Santa" for some Konad supplies for Christmas :) I am hoping that he will be very good to me, but as insurance I have contributed to my own present a little bit by buying a stamper+scraper set.. :P

Funny story: This is a lesson in "read the ebay listing properly". I thought I had bought ONE set, and thought it a bit pricey at £5 but it turns out it was actually a listing for FIVE sets! I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived today.. :)

NOTD - SpaRitual "Disco Inferno"

"Disco Inferno" is a very bright metallic lilac, and I can see myself wearing this on my toes all summer long :) But for a day when the mercury is just shy of freezing temperatures, this is a tad cold for me.

However, the application was trouble-free, it dries quickly and I only needed 2 coats for opacity. I put on a thin 3rd coat for more colour intensity (which wasn't really needed) and sealed with my beloved Seche Vite. 4 of 5 stars for SpaRitual "Disco Inferno".

Excuse the crappy swatch, it's from my work camera again which is really old.

Free Nail Polish? Sweet!

Everyone loves a freebie - but this time its mega-sweet free Nails Inc nail polish with the UK edition of Glamour mag :) I got the dark cherry red creme "Victoria". Thanks Glamour! :)